My Warrior Sister

This weekend my sister did the Volkslauf, a crazy race with mud, obstacles, and other such craziness. She was nervous because she hadn't trained with her team as much as she wanted. In fact, she called me and cried about it! I don't remember the last time she cried. I cried yesterday... and probs the day before too! I cry at least once a week. Anyway, I told her she would kill it. And she did. Her team was in the top ten, and they finished the six mile course in 1:39. That. is. amazing.

Kristen is second from the right. She's so tough.

I'd probably be crying at this point.

I'd definitely be crying seeing this wall.

 Here she is beating some boys. Booyeah.

Guess what? June did the kid's Volkslauf, and apparently she was amazing. I am not at all surprised.

This little apple did not fall far from the tree.

Winnie got in there too, but this face tells me she has more of her Auntie Nicole's disposition about mud.

Congratulations, my sister. You are amazing!

Full Steam Ahead on the Christmas Train

I told you they got started early. This picture was taken two weeks ago. Gah!

A Walk in the Sun

Nathan and I went back to our old stomping grounds near the North Barn for a walk on a familiar route we call "The Trail of Tears," so called because I've shed a tear or two or 200 on this path. I'm not sure why. No tears today though, even though I was prepared with Kleenex in my pockets.

Walking in the sun

The view from the top of Nathan's S&P head

Pointing at a hot air balloon

Taking a Senior picture

Resting on the walk-over (I'm not sure what it's called)

Hey-o

A Dalmatian sheep, at least that's what I called it

The beautiful sky reflected in the puddle

I love being able to breathe in some fresh air, even if it does smell like sheep poo. And that it means that I inhale a few gnats as well.

Autumn Checklist

Having fun things to look forward to is essential for my spirits. For the first time ever, we had a Summer 2012 checklist this year, which was so fun! I made one recently for the fall too, and we've already made some great memories checking things off this list. However, you can see that we have some extra space at the bottom of the paper.

What should we add? Do you have any ideas?

Here's the summer one with every box ticked except for one - "Row a fun boat on the river." I was too scared to do it after my sailing experience. My "sailing experience" was not at all traumatic. In fact, it was rather calm to lookers-on, but I was petrified. I'm finding that I don't really like small, engine-less boats. I think it has everything to do with being attached to a non-waterproof machine that keeps me alive.

One More Click

Go HERE to see some awesome pictures of Joey and Heidi's visit. You can also read the story behind the hilarious face Nathan is making below. You are just one click away from a good belly laugh. DO IT!

England Observations

I must, must, must encourage you to read this excellent post by my friend, Miranda Byers. She is an excellent writer and observer of British culture. If you like the "Quite Like, Rather Dislike" series, do go over and pay her latest post a visit.

Source

The Flood of 2012

Everyone knows that it rains here. A lot. It seemed like a lot-a lot this week, but I didn't really think it was that bad. It turns out that it was that bad, especially on Tuesday.

Below is a picture of the passport office, which is on the same street as our old place, The North Barn. Disaster.

Source

I took the picture above and the one below from a bridge on my way home from work. I actually asked if Nathan could come get me from school because I don't like walking for 40 minutes uphill in the pouring rain, but he was stuck in traffic for 20 minutes just trying to get out of our street over two miles away. He turned around, and on my walk home I just praised the Lord that we live at the top of a big hill instead of on the river.

Yikes. It reminded me of the Flood of 2009 back in Atlanta.

We walk a lot. Again, not a big shocker. But after all the mileage we put in this year, these shoes Nathan bought at the Bass outlet around Christmastime last year have sprung a leak. This is not advantageous during torrential downpours. Nathan decided to fix this by wearing sandwich bags on his feet.

Me: What are you going to do now that you've finished your PhD?

Nathan: I think I might spring for some new soles on these shoes. Do we know a cobbler who can get me a good deal?